Delivering research excellence depends on attracting, developing and retaining high-achieving research staff. Our aim is to support the development of all research staff and to nurture our early-career researchers.
Research support
Join our research community and you will:
- benefit from our vast information resources and unrivalled expertise in distance learning and associated technologies
- access a wide range of online information resources
- enjoy a 40 hectare landscaped campus only 45 minutes from London
- work in laboratories with state-of-the-art equipment for research into space, the environment, brain activity, music and more
Awarded for HR Excellence in Research
We are recognised for commitment to researcher career development.
The European Commission's ‘HR Excellence in Research’ badge acknowledges The Open University's alignment with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for their Recruitment, the University’s alignment with the UK QAA Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the UK Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers. The Open University's Concordat Implementation Plan can be accessed here.
Committed to researcher career development
We provide training and development opportunities for researchers at all stages of their careers. This includes postgraduate students, researchers on short (or long) term contracts and academic staff.
- Access the OU Careers Advisory Service
- Access Vitae - which champions the careers of researchers in higher education
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Access the Open University Research Career Development programme
Research funding opportunities
There are many sources of external funding available to researchers and research fellows at The Open University.
The majority of our research gets funded by the seven UK research councils:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
We also attract a significant amount of funding from the European Union, particularly on EU Seventh Framework Programmes (FP7).
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Researcher view – Umut Erel
I decided to join the OU because it is quite special for Social Science and interdisciplinary, thematically-led research. My research area looks at migration, motherhood and citizenship. The combination is unusual and would have been difficult to find elsewhere.
